Want to know what Prescott College students are thinking, doing, embrace, and love about our school?

Search This Blog

Loading...

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Dr. Patrick
Flanagan

A regionally local
genius has really effected and influenced many at Prescott College. Dr. Patrick
Flanagan is one of the world's best known scientists, one of the top
scientists of our time. His life work is most definitely changing our world for
the better. Flanagan has written books focused on Egyptian sacred
geometry and pyramid power as well as holding several patents as an
inventor. His inventions include many holistic health products like
megahydrate(one of the most powerful antioxidants in the world that flushes
radiation and toxins from the body), crystal energy(that reconstructs the
tension in water, allowing the cells in the body to take in 64% more
nutrients), the Sensor V(a treasured metals medallion proven to aid in healing
processes), and the neurophone, which has many properties still undiscovered
but allows deaf people to hear music when they wear it as one of its few
properties.

Patrick and his wife
Stephanie travel all over the world teaching. Patrick has often been said to be
Nikolai Tesla reincarnate, as he has continued research of Tesla's
and been able to reproduce and expand upon many of his experiments in highly
effective ways. I was first introduced to this man's work when a fellow student
at Prescott College told me about reading his book, Pyramid Power. Since then,
two of my good friends have gone to work for him in Sedona, and I have been so
impressed by the things they have learned.

My introduction to
Patrick's work has been amazing, and it is telling that the students at
Prescott College are drawn to his research. He is proving scientifically, along
with many other scientists who work within the field of quantum physics, things
of a metaphysical or mystical nature. It is wonderful to see students who are
so young be so taken in by the extraordinary work Patrick is doing, and
inspiring to think about what he may do yet to affect the students in this
community. - Brittany Davis

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Thoughts From A Room

In two days I am
going to graduate from Prescott College with a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in
Psychology with an emphasis in Family Systems Theory. When I started college
many years ago I wasn’t sure that this day would come. Now that it has, I’m not
even sure if I believe that it’s happening. It’s a surreal experience and one
that is unmatched by anything else in life. Twenty years ago I began my
educational journey at an elementary school in Germany. I have also been to
schools in Alaska, Tennessee, and Oregon, then finally ending up in Arizona at
Prescott College. When I came to school here I was a bright-eyed, ambitious
student eager to learn the ways of relationship.
Since childhood I have been fascinated with ecology, noticing at a young age
that creatures of the forest are dependent on the trees and the rain and the
sun. I had become enthralled with how things are in a constant state of
relationship to one another. It wasn’t until post-high school that I had come
across the field of ecology, which is a discipline of natural sciences that
observes how plants, animals, and processes of geology and meteorology are all
interdependent and interconnected. Taken a step further, I found myself curious
about how these same principles play themselves out in human relationships.
Humans are innately social creatures; we are in a constant state of
relationship with family, friends, colleagues, coworkers, and the general
public as we move about our daily lives. This dynamic process necessitates some
level of order, an agreement of how to be
in this world with one another. I wanted to know how this phenomenon works.

The
ethos of self-directed learning at Prescott College allowed me to explore this
question with great depth and humility. I can’t say that I have any brilliant
answers just yet, but I can say that I have even more questions and a method of
approaching curiosity that allows for a sense of understanding to shine through
the muddled backdrop of human functioning. Two-and-a-half years ago I began my
quest of looking at the processes of relationship. I wanted to study the human
link to ecology, wilderness, social justice, and art. My ideas of grandeur were
to stretch myself across disciplines and pull vast connections across program
areas because, like I said, it’s all interconnected and interdependent. I
believe that an older generation than mine referred to this kind of person as a
Renaissance man. I would suggest that this truly embodies a scholar in the
liberal arts tradition. How was I supposed to accomplish such a lofty goal
spanning the width of the college? At the time, I had no idea. It seemed
impossible.

During
my first semester at Prescott College I was introduced to Murray Bowen’s family
systems theory. Bowen theory is a psychological theory based on principles of
evolutionary biology that observes the continuum of human functioning and
attempts to uncover how this process is regulated in congruence with natural
phenomenon. From this lens I have come to a greater understanding of how human
emotional processes work. I was able to truly explore what it means to be
educated in the liberal arts. My studies have taken me from psychology to
history and from art to activism. In addition, my curiosity of relationship has
been satisfied….at least for the moment. I believe this curiosity will never
quite be quelled.

That
being said, my days at Prescott College are nearing an end. I have accomplished
my goals that I initially set forth. I welcome all prospective students to
follow the footsteps of many great thinkers and activists that have spent time
at Prescott College. This is a unique place with an unparalleled breadth of
opportunity waiting ahead. It is a challenging road, academically and
emotionally. Those who choose to travel this path emerge with a greater
aptitude to create the change they want to see in the world.

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Summer began in Anchorage...Part III

Matt Seats

In part II, the Prescott College (PC) summer Wilderness Leadership class had finished an epic 35-mile traverse of the Eklutna Glacier and was heading for North Cascades National Park near Marblemount, Washington. Half of the class headed for Eldorado Peak and the other half hiked toward Boston Basin. Each group had the mission of scouting the region around their camp and determining climbing routes and curriculum to teach students who would join us later. Following our weeks of logistical preparation, snow climbing and mountaineering, lesson planning and location scouting, crevasse rescue practice, risk management discussions and planning, we were ready to welcome our practicum students. The marmots were out in full force, whistling their greetings to the newcomers.The next two weeks were filled with early morning alpine-starts, lessons on snow
travel, crevasse travel, and glaciology, rock climbing with boots (and
crampons) on, and generally loving our classroom - the mountains of Washington
state. Climbing such ominous sounding peaks as the shark’s fin and Forbidden
Peak, we led our groups across glaciers and snow bridges, up snow and rock to
Sahale, Eldorado (below), and Tepeh Towers.

Weather was generally
very kind to us throughout the course. The last two days threw us a little
extra rain though. Our final descents off Sahale and the Shark’s fin were
accompanied by torrential rain and Volkswagen-sized boulders crashing down the
slopes around us. Running and glissading down the rock and snow slopes brought
us all down safely, and after changing into dry clothes we all had some great
stories to share. The next day, both of our groups
hiked back down to the trailhead – where we discovered that we had become part
of a group being talked about on the nightly news. It seems that the deluge of
rain the day before had flooded Boston Creek. The main bridge into North
Cascades National Park (NCNP) had vanished the night before as boulders, trees
and high water levels erased the concrete and steel structure from the
landscape.

The official report read, “Thunderstorms moved through the western part
of NCNP during the afternoon and early evening of Saturday, August 11th,
dumping heavy rain within a short period of time. This caused the Cascade River
Road to wash out at its junction with Boston Creek, stranding approximately
25-35 vehicles parked at the Cascades Pass Trailhead 1½ miles above the
washout. Sixty-five stranded people stayed the night in their vehicles.”

Our party of ten, part of that 65, had
actually spent the night warm and safe in our tents on the mountain. We awoke
enveloped by a beautiful cloud, dressed and had breakfast, broke camp and hiked
back to the parking lot…where we learned that we were considered storm
refugees. The National Park Service was completely on top of their game though.
Food was heli-dropped to all of stranded in the parking lot, and within hours a
temporary earth bridge had been built to allow us to leave.

Reluctantly we ended
our adventure-filled months of glaciers and mountains and faced south to
Arizona. It was time to end the summer and return to school. Some flew back
from Seattle, while the rest of us piled into the Prescott College van for a
two day road trip. People ask me how my summer was and I smile. It was: fun,
cold, hot, hungry, wet, dry, a feast, tiring, educational, thrilling, scary,
and AMAZING! I will always remember the challenges and rewards of PC Wilderness Leadership.

Monday, December 2, 2013

A Great Show For This Small Town

BB King

Rolling Stone magazine ranked him at No. 6 on its list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time (previously ranked No. 3 in the 2003 edition of the same list),and he was ranked No. 17 in Gibson's "Top 50 Guitarists of All Time".According to Edward M. Komara, King "introduced a sophisticated style of soloing based on fluid string bending and shimmering vibrato that would influence virtually every electric blues guitarist that followed." King was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. He is considered one of the most influential blues musicians of all time, earning the nickname "The King of Blues", and one of the "Three Kings of the Blues Guitar" (along with Albert King and Freddie King) King is also known for performing tirelessly throughout his musical career appearing at 250-300 concerts per year until his seventies. In 1956 it was noted that he appeared at 342 shows. King continues to appear at 100 shows a year...

...and this year he came to Prescott Arizona for one of them! I was amazed and surprised how many young Prescott College students were excitingly telling me about buying their tickets to his show. Something that I am always refreshingly surprised by at Prescott College is the students' general old-soul feeling. Students here are connected in to a kind of groove that speaks of agelessness, often showing a maturity way beyond their years. An appreciation for good music, too, that was before their time in ways but happily interwoven into their experience. Wow, what a cool crowd we have around here.

How awesome, also, that BB King chose to come to Prescott, Arizona of all places to tour. Prescott is blessed with a lot of shows like this: big names that come to this little town because they heard the vibes here were so good. What a fantastic thing to experience, music that is on the same level as many bigger towns and cities. Whoohoo!

So here is a shout out to this amazing performer and the amazing students welcoming him in. Jam on, soul swingers! - Brittany Davis

Links We Love

Matt Seats

Competence: Wilderness Leadership (Adventure Education)Breadth: Environmental Studies (Land Management Policy)Favorite Place: I really enjoy Seattle and the Pacific Northwest, but Rum Point in Grand Cayman and the jungles and cloud forests in the Chiriqui region of Panama are pretty amazing too!On My Days Off I Like To: Rock climb, write, bike, hike, kayak and otherwise spend time outdoors.After I Graduate: I hope to split my time between teaching/instructing in the field, working on land management policy research and issues at the Bureau of Land Management (or other land management agency), and guiding international expeditions.

Amanda August

Competence: Human Development

Breadth: Cultural and Regional Studies; Adventure Education

My Favorite Place: Recently I traveled to Seattle and Rainier Nat'l Park and absolutely loved it. I also worked in the Sierra Nevadas last year and can't wait to get back this coming summer and explore more!

On My Days Off I Like To: Hiking/Climbing/Cycling, Check out what's new at the Picture Show, Tinker with projects, Letterboxing, Traveling with friends.

After I Graduate: Continue on to get my Masters, working in Non Profits serving under served Youth, invoking systemic change while promoting experiential education as a basic academic necessity. Canoe the Yukon. Travel South America. Open a brewery. You know, do it all.

Hannah Jean Marshall

Competence: A double competence in Wilderness Leadership with an emphasis in Gender studies, and The Political Economy and Social Justice Favorite place: Where ever I find my adventureOn My Saturdays Off I Like To: See what the day brings...

After I Graduate: I will be a rock star

Ruby Teegarden

Competence: Environmental PolicyBreadth: Music EducationFavorite Place: San Francisco/BerkeleyOn my Saturdays off I like to Read, be in the sun, cook yummy foodAfter I graduate I plan on making our food systems more sustainable, among other things.